ROYAL COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE MELBOURNE RESPONSE

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has announced that it will be holding a public hearing commencing on Monday, 18 August 2014 to examine the Melbourne Response. The Royal Commission has allowed two weeks for the hearing. The scope and purpose of the hearing is to inquire into how the Melbourne Response has responded to victims of child sexual abuse and allegations of child sexual abuse against personnel of the Archdiocese, the experience of people who have engaged in the Melbourne Response and any other related matters. It is anticipated that the Royal Commission will hear from victims who have used the Melbourne Response, Archbishop Hart and Cardinal Pell who established the Melbourne Response whilst Archbishop of Melbourne as well as the Independent Commissioners, Compensation Panel and Carelink. The Archdiocese respects the Royal Commission and is committed to full cooperation with the inquiry being undertaken by the Royal Commission. Information about the involvement of the Archdiocese with the Royal Commission will be provided in further emails and available at www.cam.org.au/Royal-Commission. Our prayers are with the victims and their families and those entrusted with the conduct of the Royal Commission.